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Mechanical Section
equipment reviews
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Mechanical Section equipment reviews |
 Packless Seal System by SPURS ® November 1, 1998 If you ever had to tighten or change the packing on a v-drive you've said words that would make even a sailor blush. I mean what are these manufacturers thinking when they cramed two engines inches apart, on 11 inch high stringers with the packing gland nestled tightly under the engine. Do they think marine mechanics are born with 5 foot arms that bend in 30 places. Have you had a hard time keeping packing from being chewed up? Have you replaced your shafts because of packing ring groves and pitting only to have them repeat the problem a few years down the road? Your best bet is to go with a packless gland. I've tried them all and the best I've used is the Packless Seal System. It is heavy duty and made to take the environment it is exposed to. Here are some tips for replacing your current packing glands. 1. Your transmission coupling will have to be pulled from the shaft. This is sometimes easy, or sometimes the coupling is so frozen on that the shaft has to be cut. 2. Inspect the shaft where the packless gland will ride, if it has pitting or is grooved, replace the shaft. Building up the damaged area with welding and then polishing down to size is not recomended. The collar that the seal face rides against has two o-rings that seal to the shaft to prevent leaks. If the shaft is damaged it will cut the o-rings. 3. After the new glands are installed and the boat is put back in the water, burp the glands to make sure all air is out. 4. Follow the installation instructions carefully. It is not a hard job to do unless your packing has been leaking for a while and everthing in a one foot radius is fused together. 5. Inspect the bellows hose like you would any other hose on a regular basis. 6. Sit back and enjoy not having to worry about your packing glands again. 7. If your buying a new boat, insist the dealer install the packless glands before you have a problem. It will cost less to do when everything is new and not corroded. Idiot disclaimer: MAKE SURE THE BOAT IS OUT OF THE WATER WHEN YOU ATTEMPT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PACKING GLAND! Good Luck and............ SMOOTH RUNNING! Bruce |